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The Nittany Lions will travel to junior Casey Bailey's home state for the Brice Alaska Goal Rush, hosted by Alaska Fairbanks, Oct. 17-18.

Image: Penn State

Men's hockey unveils 2014-15 schedule

July 11, 2014

Men's hockey unveils 2014-15 schedule

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men's hockey team's 2014-15 schedule is now available after the release of the team's 16-game non-conference slate, head men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky announced Wednesday. In all, Penn State will play 36 regular-season games, including 18 at Pegula Ice Arena, during its third NCAA season.

Highlighting the non-conference slate are four games in three National Hockey League venues, including Penn State's first appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden, and its first trip outside the contiguous United States. Penn State, which will return to both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the third straight season, will also face their five Big Ten adversaries four times each during the 2014-15 campaign.

"After our first season in the Big Ten, the coaching staff and team are excited to see our continued growth as we enter the next chapter of Penn State Hockey," said Gadowsky. "The 2014-15 campaign will bring forth its own set of unique challenges, while the opportunity to continue our relationships in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and experience Madison Square Garden for the first time will give our alumni and fans the opportunity to witness Nittany Lion hockey on some of the biggest stages."

Penn State will commence the 2014-15 season at Pegula Ice Arena Oct. 10-11 with a two-game series against new Hockey East member UConn. After the series, the Nittany Lions will travel to junior Casey Bailey's (Anchorage, Alaska) home state to compete in the in Brice Alaska Goal Rush, hosted by Alaska Fairbanks, Oct. 17-18. The Nittany Lions will face Alaska Anchorage Oct. 17 before playing Fairbanks the following night.

In addition to Bailey's connection to The Last Frontier, Gadowsky served as Alaska Fairbanks' head coach for five seasons (1999-2004), while redshirt junior Eric Scheid (Blaine, Minn.) skated for Alaska Anchorage in 2011-12. Former Nittany Lion Justin Kirchhevel (Brookings, S.D.) also competed with the Seawolves in 2010-11.

After the trip, Penn State will return to Hockey Valley for a pair of series against Atlantic Hockey opponents. The Nittany Lions will host Holy Cross for a Friday-Sunday series (Oct. 24, 26) before welcoming Bentley Oct. 30-31.

Following its fourth straight home game, Penn State will visit two-time defending Hockey East tournament champion and NCAA tournament participant UMass Lowell Nov. 14-15 before opening Big Ten play at Michigan (Nov. 21-22).

The Nittany Lions will then face Cornell in The Frozen Apple at New York's Madison Square Garden Saturday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the Madison Square Garden box office and online at Ticketmaster.com. Penn State, which will face the Big Red for the first time as NCAA foes, battled Cornell in Ithaca, New York, Feb. 5, 1944 during Penn State's early varsity era.

After the holiday weekend, Penn State will return to league play at Wisconsin (Dec. 5-6) before making its third straight appearance at the Three Rivers Classic at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center. The Nittany Lions will play Robert Morris Monday, Dec. 29 and will face either Colgate or Western Michigan in the championship or consolation game Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Once the calendar turns to 2015, Penn State will play just three games against non-conference foes. After home series against Ohio State (Jan. 9-10) and Michigan State (Jan. 16-17), the Nittany Lions will host Northern Michigan Jan. 23-24 as part of a season-high six-game homestand before facing Vermont in the Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff at the Wells Fargo Center Jan. 31.

After its battle against the Catamounts, Penn State will stay within conference play for the remainder of the regular season. The Nittany Lions will host Wisconsin (Feb. 6-7), Minnesota (Feb. 19 or 21, Feb. 20) and Michigan (March 6-7), while visiting Michigan State (Feb. 13 or 15, Feb. 14), Ohio State (Feb. 27 or March 1, Feb. 28) and Minnesota (March 13-14).

Following the regular season, Penn State will play in the Big Ten tournament, to be held at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, March 19-21. The tournament will open with quarterfinal-round action March 19 before the two semifinals and championship game will be played March 20 and 21, respectively. The Big Ten tournament champion will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Conference game times and the television schedule will be released at a later date.